The XR400 Thread

[Bentley]

Originally Posted by Rman237

I didn't think the stock stator would put out enough juice for the road so I stand corrected. I went the Baja Designs kit route which came with the battery...etc.. I'll give you one thing, that headlight is real, real bright on the high beam!!........

http://www.bajadesigns.com/


Where ya at Bentley? You ever ride Cross Creek or Cherokee?

You are probably right about not enough juice "for the road." As jet33 noted, hit the brakes (or the horn), and the lights will dim!

I have not ridden Cross Creek. We ride City Park a lot, as well as Hidden Falls (used to be Boulder Creek). I have ridden at CTOR and Cherokee as well.

Cheers,

Ben

[jet123]

I agree with 2old2race...

But if you gotta ride the roads a good amount, rebuild the seat

[Luke]

Originally Posted by maskmarney

Hi, I'm looking to buy a XR400 in the spring, and I'm wondering how the engine handles highway miles. I live in SF, CA, and in order to get to some of the places I want to ride(the Mendocino National Forest, for example), I'll need to ride an hour or two on the freeway before taking the country roads and fire roads that I intend to explore. Would this a) be too uncomfortable or b) tax the engine too much to be practicable? Would it simply be better to haul the bike in a truck for a few hours, and then ride it( I do not, however, own a truck)?
Thanks

I used to ride Mendocino NF from Santa Rosa. It's a long ride on any little bike. Among the bikes that you would want to ride on the trails there, the XR is among the best.


Put some weights on the wheels to balance the rim locks, buy a nice seat, put a little windscreen on it and it will be much better. The same goes for any little bike.

Even then, especially from SF, I'd rent a truck for a day ride. 2.5 hours up, 4 hours of trail riding, 2.5 hours back is a long day. Especially if the last hour is cold, dark, through Marin traffic. For a full weekend, sure, ride up one day, hotel/camp one night and ride back the next day.

I put a lot of highway miles on my XR, and it blew up recently, probably from oil starvation. I don't know if that's a coincidence or not. FWIW the transmission and bottom end were in perfect condition.

If you're sure you just want to ride the fire roads, then a bigger bike would be fine, but the thought of taking anything over 300# on the single track up there makes my joints twitch.

[SwitchThrottle]

Originally Posted by maskmarney

Hi, I'm looking to buy a XR400 in the spring, and I'm wondering how the engine handles highway miles. I live in SF, CA, and in order to get to some of the places I want to ride(the Mendocino National Forest, for example), I'll need to ride an hour or two on the freeway before taking the country roads and fire roads that I intend to explore. Would this a) be too uncomfortable or b) tax the engine too much to be practicable? Would it simply be better to haul the bike in a truck for a few hours, and then ride it( I do not, however, own a truck)?
Thanks

I don't remember where I saw it, but swap to a 14/42 and get a case saver. Swap the 15 on when you will be doing slab work, and bring the 14 with you (along with the wrenches you need to swap). When you get to the trail, swap the 14 back on and ride until you need to slab it home, then swap the 15 back on. You could get two cheap wrenches and cut-n-weld a custom CS/axle nut wrench to save weight. That should help the motor longevity.

[Hayduke]

Originally Posted by SwitchThrottle

I don't remember where I saw it, but swap to a 14/42 and get a case saver. Swap the 15 on when you will be doing slab work, and bring the 14 with you (along with the wrenches you need to swap). When you get to the trail, swap the 14 back on and ride until you need to slab it home, then swap the 15 back on. You could get two cheap wrenches and cut-n-weld a custom CS/axle nut wrench to save weight. That should help the motor longevity.

It's just 2 10mm bolts to change the c/s sprocket. I used to do this all the time... carried a 13, a 14, and a 15 tooth cs sprocket with me.

[SwitchThrottle]

Originally Posted by Hayduke

It's just 2 10mm bolts to change the c/s sprocket. I used to do this all the time... carried a 13, a 14, and a 15 tooth cs sprocket with me.

True, but you still need to adjust the chain when you swap.

[Hayduke]

Originally Posted by SwitchThrottle

True, but you still need to adjust the chain when you swap.

Yep. I could do the whole process in less than 5 min. (mommer timed me. )

Had a small 10 mm ratchet and a axle nut wrench at the ready.

I really liked the chain adjusters on the xr400

[wide]

Originally Posted by Hayduke

It's just 2 10mm bolts to change the c/s sprocket. I used to do this all the time... carried a 13, a 14, and a 15 tooth cs sprocket with me.

Exactly what I do. The ol girl runs at 55/65 mph (gps) with the 15/42 bung a 14 or 13 on while Im taking a break and away she goes pulling everywhere

[r00t4rd3d]

Originally Posted by LaOutbackTrail

The foam progressively made the bike do exactly as you were describing, more throttle, less umph. Take the foam off and tryer-out.

I dont think that is a good idea. My buddy put a nylon over his snorkel on his ATV and it ran fine with it on there for a couple days then it got clogged with dirt and it wouldnt run right.

[Svart]

Originally Posted by r00t4rd3d

I dont think that is a good idea. My buddy put a nylon over his snorkel on his ATV and it ran fine with it on there for a couple days then it got clogged with dirt and it wouldnt run right.

Sounds like it was time to clean the nylon...

The dirty foam in the picture was used as a pre-filter, to keep the real air filter from getting all clogged up by large items. Bug, twigs and the occational squirrel will stay out of the airbox :)

I´m planning to open up my airbox and put a pre-filter there instead. Recently pulled the snorkel and the PO must have had the carb jetted for no snorkel, bike runs better now.

[Svart]

It just hit me...: dirty nylons. Perfect for my sence of humor :)


Have you pulled the exhaust manifold to have a look at the welds on the inside, just at the beginning of each pipe? At least a third of my pipes were not open so I went at it with a dremel for a while. Got it a bit better, didn´t want to remove all of it in case the weld actually does something besides clog up my exhaust.
Didn´t feel any big difference though.

[DrLewall]

update..you can find my write up here..short story, the sawzall cut the swing arm out!

[jet123]

Originally Posted by DrLewall

update..you can find my write up here..short story, the sawzall cut the swing arm out!

I'm sure that will buff right out







Seriously, that sucks!

[laramie LC4]

Originally Posted by jet123

I'm sure that will buff right out

its a honda xr, whats the problem? i thought that was how they did it OEM....

laramie

[jet123]

I actually need to check mine so I added it to my winter 'to-do' list.